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Possible post office closings in Hempstead County, and 170 others in Arkansas, has been an issue for a few weeks now.
Concern over the announced closings grew after Saratoga residents were told their post office was to close because, according to Max Adcock, superintendent of Saratoga schools, the U.S. Postal Service was suggesting closing the bigger office in Saratoga and letting the Columbus office, which is smaller, take the load at Saratoga.
With many citizens angered about the situation more S,outhwest Arkansas post offices may close now, including Columbus.
In Hempstead County, the expanded list included Columbus, McCaskill, and Historic Washington. In Nevada County it included Cale, Rosston, Whelen Springs, and Willisville.
U.S. Senator John Boozman, R-Ar., agreed with this concept Friday when questioned by the Hope Star.
"I am very concerned about proposed changes to numerous postal facilities in Arkansas.
I have heard from the people of Arkansas, and I am expressing their support for keeping postal facilities directly to the Postal Service in Arkansas and in Washington, DC. The Postal Service is facing serious financial problems, and I will support reforms to help the Postal Service balance its books. However, widespread closures of rural or small facilities is not the solution to these financial difficulties. In the rare instances where a closure may have to occur, the process must be transparent, justified by the facts, and it must allow for the full input of all citizens who could be impacted. Unfortunately, the current process does not meet these standards in many cases. I am working to change that."Dale Gathright, of Saratoga, who has followed the situation closely, also said the most current plan after the offices go “up for review,” they announced a roll out of so-called Village Post Offices as a retail-replacement option for approximately 3,700 post offices nationwide. The Postal Service said this is the next step in "right-sizing" their retail network by studying the customer needs at these offices. In the announcement, USPS said customer's habits "have made it clear they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business,” according to Gathright. Washington, Arkansas Mayor and Hope Parks Director Paul Henley said currently there is a group formed to fight the closing of the oldest known post office in Arkansas. “We are getting ready to counter any effort to close it right now,” Henley said Friday. When asked how it would affect the town, he said not only from a historical aspect, but also for the everyday citizen, they could not get city mail, they would not have post office boxes. Henley said it would “really hurt” the town. U.S. Senator Mark Pryor issued a recent statement that read, “Post offices play an important role to keep rural communities connected to commerce and news. That is why it is critical a full and fail assessment is completed before USPS closes any doors. Instead we are seeing the postal service fail to deliver both on out expectations and the law. I will continue to work with other rural-state Senator's until the process is done right.” On Friday Pryor's office responded with an e-mail stating, “Nothing new to report yet, but we are still following the situation.” The Village Post Offices plan would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging. Gathright said there are currently no pharmacies, grocery stores and retailers in several of the towns including Columbus, Washington, McCaskill, Beirne, Cale, Ben Lomond, Buckner and Whelen Springs. USPS did not have a remedy for this situation. Congressman Mike Ross's office has not released any new information to the Hope Star. In Southwest Arkansas, the following post offices are on the list: Columbus, Washington, McCaskill, Rosston, Willisville, Cale, Antoine, Ben Lomond, Beirne, Alleene, Bluff City, Curtis, Garland City, Langley, Newhope, Okolona, Buckner, Mount Holly and Whelen Springs. Meanwhile, the American Postal Workers Union has demanded that post offices, stations and branches remain open. "Closing post offices and slashing service to the American people is not the answer to the Postal Service's financial crisis," said APWU President Cliff Guffey.
Possible post office closings in Hempstead County, and 170 others in Arkansas, has been an issue for a few weeks now.
Concern over the announced closings grew after Saratoga residents were told their post office was to close because, according to Max Adcock, superintendent of Saratoga schools, the U.S. Postal Service was suggesting closing the bigger office in Saratoga and letting the Columbus office, which is smaller, take the load at Saratoga.
With many citizens angered about the situation more S,outhwest Arkansas post offices may close now, including Columbus.
In Hempstead County, the expanded list included Columbus, McCaskill, and Historic Washington. In Nevada County it included Cale, Rosston, Whelen Springs, and Willisville.
U.S. Senator John Boozman, R-Ar., agreed with this concept Friday when questioned by the Hope Star.
"I am very concerned about proposed changes to numerous postal facilities in Arkansas.
I have heard from the people of Arkansas, and I am expressing their support for keeping postal facilities directly to the Postal Service in Arkansas and in Washington, DC. The Postal Service is facing serious financial problems, and I will support reforms to help the Postal Service balance its books. However, widespread closures of rural or small facilities is not the solution to these financial difficulties. In the rare instances where a closure may have to occur, the process must be transparent, justified by the facts, and it must allow for the full input of all citizens who could be impacted. Unfortunately, the current process does not meet these standards in many cases. I am working to change that."Dale Gathright, of Saratoga, who has followed the situation closely, also said the most current plan after the offices go “up for review,” they announced a roll out of so-called Village Post Offices as a retail-replacement option for approximately 3,700 post offices nationwide. The Postal Service said this is the next step in "right-sizing" their retail network by studying the customer needs at these offices. In the announcement, USPS said customer's habits "have made it clear they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business,” according to Gathright. Washington, Arkansas Mayor and Hope Parks Director Paul Henley said currently there is a group formed to fight the closing of the oldest known post office in Arkansas. “We are getting ready to counter any effort to close it right now,” Henley said Friday. When asked how it would affect the town, he said not only from a historical aspect, but also for the everyday citizen, they could not get city mail, they would not have post office boxes. Henley said it would “really hurt” the town. U.S. Senator Mark Pryor issued a recent statement that read, “Post offices play an important role to keep rural communities connected to commerce and news. That is why it is critical a full and fail assessment is completed before USPS closes any doors. Instead we are seeing the postal service fail to deliver both on out expectations and the law. I will continue to work with other rural-state Senator's until the process is done right.” On Friday Pryor's office responded with an e-mail stating, “Nothing new to report yet, but we are still following the situation.” The Village Post Offices plan would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging. Gathright said there are currently no pharmacies, grocery stores and retailers in several of the towns including Columbus, Washington, McCaskill, Beirne, Cale, Ben Lomond, Buckner and Whelen Springs. USPS did not have a remedy for this situation. Congressman Mike Ross's office has not released any new information to the Hope Star. In Southwest Arkansas, the following post offices are on the list: Columbus, Washington, McCaskill, Rosston, Willisville, Cale, Antoine, Ben Lomond, Beirne, Alleene, Bluff City, Curtis, Garland City, Langley, Newhope, Okolona, Buckner, Mount Holly and Whelen Springs. Meanwhile, the American Postal Workers Union has demanded that post offices, stations and branches remain open. "Closing post offices and slashing service to the American people is not the answer to the Postal Service's financial crisis," said APWU President Cliff Guffey.
“I have heard from the people of Arkansas, and I am expressing their support for keeping postal facilities directly to the Postal Service in Arkansas and in Washington, DC.
“The Postal Service is facing serious financial problems, and I will support reforms to help the Postal Service balance its books.
“However, widespread closures of rural or small facilities is not the solution to these financial difficulties. In the rare instances where a closure may have to occur, the process must be transparent, justified by the facts, and it must allow for the full input of all citizens who could be impacted.
“Unfortunately, the current process does not meet these standards in many cases. I am working to change that," Sen. Boozman said.
Dale Gathright, of Saratoga, who has followed the situation closely, also said the most current plan after the offices go “up for review,” they announced a roll out of so-called Village Post Offices as a retail-replacement option for approximately 3,700 post offices nationwide.
The Postal Service said this is the next step in "right-sizing" their retail network by studying the customer needs at these offices.
In the announcement, USPS said customer's habits "have made it clear they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business,” according to Gathright.
Washington, Arkansas Mayor and Hope Parks Director Paul Henley said currently there is a group formed to fight the closing of the oldest known post office in Arkansas.
“We are getting ready to counter any effort to close it right now,” Henley said Friday.
When asked how it would affect the town, he said not only from a historical aspect, but also for the everyday citizen, they could not get city mail, they would not have post office boxes. Henley said it would “really hurt” the town.
U.S. Senator Mark Pryor issued a recent statement that read, “Post offices play an important role to keep rural communities connected to commerce and news.
“That is why it is critical a full and fail assessment is completed before USPS closes any doors. Instead we are seeing the postal service fail to deliver both on out expectations and the law. I will continue to work with other rural-state Senator's until the process is done right.”
On Friday Pryor's office responded with an e-mail stating, “Nothing new to report yet, but we are still following the situation.”
The Village Post Offices plan would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging.
Gathright said there are currently no pharmacies, grocery stores and retailers in several of the towns including Columbus, Washington, McCaskill, Beirne, Cale, Ben Lomond, Buckner and Whelen Springs. USPS did not have a remedy for this situation.
Congressman Mike Ross's office has not released any new information to the Hope Star.
In Southwest Arkansas, the following post offices are on the list: Columbus, Washington, McCaskill, Rosston, Willisville, Cale, Antoine, Ben Lomond, Beirne, Alleene, Bluff City, Curtis, Garland City, Langley, Newhope, Okolona, Buckner, Mount Holly and Whelen Springs.
Meanwhile, the American Postal Workers Union has demanded that post offices, stations and branches remain open.
"Closing post offices and slashing service to the American people is not the answer to the Postal Service's financial crisis," said APWU President Cliff Guffey.
